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First born son of Thomas James and Elizabeth Rachel Nevin nee Day, Thomas James "Sonny" Nevin was born on 16 April 1874 and died on 17 Jan 1948, not to be confused with his father with the same name.
First-born son Thomas James 'Sonny' Nevin (1874 - 1948) ca. 1930
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Thomas James "Sonny" Nevin, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Nevin,
ca. 1940, in Salvation Army uniform.
Copyright © KLW NFC Imprint 2009 ARR.
The genealogical information below was prepared in the USA by Jackie Cetnar with notes from Polly Laughlin and descendants of the Bates family sometime before 2004. The information gathered about Thomas Nevin clearly indicates (a) his middle initial "J" stood for "James" and (b) his registration was photographer in 1874, two years after he began his Port Arthur prison and Hobart Gaol photographic commissions, viz.
Notes from Jackie Cetnar:
Generation No. 1
1. THOMAS JAMES1 NEVIN (Source: AVIR data.). He married ELIZABETH RACHEL DAY (Source: AVIR data.) July 12, 1871 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: CM 723336, 1871, reg state Tasmania, Ref number 271.).
More About THOMAS JAMES NEVIN:
Occupation: 1874, Photographer
More About THOMAS NEVIN and ELIZABETH DAY:
Marriage: July 12, 1871, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: CM 723336, 1871, reg state Tasmania, Ref number 271.)
Both father and son, therefore, were named Thomas James Nevin. See this entry here for an extended discussion of the confusion this has generated.
Thomas and Elizabeth Nevin's eldest son Thomas James "Sonny" Nevin (1874-1948) married Gertrude Jane Tennyson Bates (1883-1958) at the Wesleyan Church, Hobart, on February 6th, 1907. Her father, Walter Tennyson Bates, had died in 1905. By July 1907, Gertrude's mother, Elizabeth Jane Bates nee Jones, had left Hobart and arrived in Sydney with six of her seven children - Gertrude remaining in Hobart with husband Thomas James "Sonny" Nevin. Her mother and siblings migrated first to Vancouver, and eventually to California in 1910.
These extended notes about Gertrude's parents and siblings are excerpts from information kindly forwarded by Jackie Cetnar, a Bates family descendant:
WALTER TENNYSON BATES (Gertrude's father):
Moved to Tasmania, Australia about 1885.
Gravestone reads: In Loving Memory of Walter Tennyson Beloved Husband of E. J. Bates. Also little CHARLIE, Infant son of above, Also GERTRUDE BATES, Died 5th May 1958, At Rest.
Obituary from "The Tasmanian Mail", for 06, Jan. 1906:(Photograph of WTB also available)
The late Mr. Bates was a native of Hull, Yorkshire, England, and came to Australia some 23 years ago. He then spent about three years in Melbourne, and was leading cornet player in the Royal & Princess theatres. He came to Tasmania to lead the Rechabite Band, and was afterwards conductor of the Garrison Band for many years. He also conducted the Hobart City, Richmond, Bellerive, Kempton, Bismark, Sorell and Filibuster bands at different times, and formed several of them. For a long time he was Grand Trumpeter of the Masonic Lodge.
At the time of his death the deceased was conductor of the City Band, but had been absent on leave for some time, Mr. Clay (his first pupil in Australia) acting in his stead. The late Mr. Bates acted as a judge at the competitions in Sydney, Melbourne, Launceston and Queenstown. The deceased was a connection of the late Poet Laureate, his mother being a member of the Tennyson family, Lincolnshire ... He leaves a widow and six children (one son and five daughters).
Obituary for " The Mercury ", Tasmania, for 19 Dec. 1905:
Walter Tennyson Bates answered the " Last Call" on the evening of 18th inst., after a somewhat long illness, having expired at his late residence on Lansdowne Crescent. He had been ailing for some months, and recently took a visit to England and Melbourne in search of a cure, but without avail. The deceased, who was in the 52 year of his age, came from the old country about 20 years ago, and settled in Hobart. Prior to leaving England he was the conductor of the Winter Gardens Band in Southport-one of the best combinations of instrumentalists in England. In Tasmania he had at various time been leader of both the Garrison and City Bands. He was for a long period acknowledged as one of the premier cornet soloists of Australasia. He had of late years conducted a flourishing produce business and had almost given up the idea of taking up the baton again, but when the City Band solicited him he went heart and soul into the work and make that band what it is today. Mr. Bates was highly respected by all who knew him as straightforward businessman. Much sympathy is felt for his wife and family. His funeral will be attended by the bandsmen of the city, and appropriate music will be played en route and at the grave.
More About WALTER TENNYSON BATES (Gertrude's father):
Burial: December 20, 1905, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: (1) Information given by Polly Laughlin., (2) Death Notice, Mercury Newspaper, 12-20-1905, Hobart.)
Cause of Death: Ulceration of the bowel and exhaustion
Occupation 1: Bandmaster (Source: Information given by Polly Laughlin.)
Occupation 2: 1905, Produce Merchant (Source: Death Certificate.)
Residence 1: December 18, 1905, Bonnington Rd., Hobart, Tasmania (produce merchant) (Source: Death Certificate.)
Residence 2: 1854, 63 English St., Hull, Yorkshire, England (Source: Birth.)
Residence 3: 1861, Hull, East Yorkshire, England (Source: 1861 Census Hull, Yorkshire, England.)
Residence 4: 1871, Hull?
Residence 5: 1879, Poulton Rd., High Park, North Meols, Lancashire, England (Source: Marriage certificate.)
Residence 6: 1881, 33 Back Virginia St., North Meols, Lancashire, England, Musician (Source: 1881 Census North Meols, Lancashire, England, FHL film 1341898, PRO RG 11, 3752, folio 67, page 47.)
Residence 7: 1882, Australia (Melbourne) (Source: Walter T. Bate Obit, Tasmain Mail.)
Residence 8: 1895, Goulburn St., Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Birth certificate.)
Notes for ELIZABETH JANE JONES (Gertrude's mother):
Elizabeth and her children immigrated from Australia in 1907. They arrived in Surmas,Vancouver, British Columbia on a vessel named Manuka, which was the Australian Canadian SS C. They traveled with passports. The immigration officers examined them on board the ship. The date of arrival was August 7, 1907. They left Sydney on July 7, 1907
From the 1910 Alameda County, Oakland, City CA census, Elizabeth is listed as: Elizabeth J. Bates, head of household, widow, 54 years old, had 7 children of which 6 are living, she was born in England, both of her parents were born in England, no occupation, immigrated to the USA in 1907. Her children were listed with her, all except Gertrude. Her ashes were buried at Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, April 22, 1920. Her ashes were sent by Parcel Post from California to Cornelian Bay Cemetery. She died from Chronic myocarditis. This information is from the Undertakers Logbook.
More About ELIZABETH JANE JONES (Gertrude's mother):
Burial: April 22, 1920, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Information given by Polly Laughlin.)
Residence 1: 1916, Oakland, Alameda, California
Residence 2: 1881, 33 Back Virginia St., North Meols, Lancashire (Source: 1881 Census North Meols, Lancashire, England.)
Residence 3: 1910, 2833 Persimmons Ave, Oakland, Alameda, California (Source: 1910 Census, Alameda, Oakland, CA, ed 210, page 9B.)
Residence 4: 1911, renting at 2833 Persimmon Ave., Oakland, CA
Residence 5: Bet. 1912 - 1915, renting at 2509 Persimmon Ave., Oakland, CA (Source: Oakland City Directories rom 1911-1915.)
Marriage Notes for WALTER BATES and ELIZABETH JONES (Gertrude's parents):
Information given by Polly Laughlin: The certificate states that William Lawrence Bates was the father of Walter and that his profession was a Joiner. Elizabeth father was John Jones who was a woodcarver. Edward Jones and Mary Kerfoot signed as witnesses. Walter was a musician and she was a spinster not working.
More About WALTER BATES and ELIZABETH JONES:
Marriage: April 22, 1879, Poulton Rd, High Park, Lancaster, England (Source: Information given by Polly Laughlin, marriage certificate, North Meols, Lancashire, England.)
Children of WALTER BATES and ELIZABETH JONES are:
2. i. GERTRUDE JANE TENNYSON4 BATES, b. 1883, Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia; d. May 05, 1958, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
3. ii. WALTER LAWRENCE BATES, b. April 05, 1885, Carlton, Melbourne, Australia; d. December 19, 1959, Kaiser Found Hospital, Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, California.
iii. CHARLES EDGAR BATES (Source: Information given by Polly Laughlin.), b. November 14, 1888, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: (1) Information given by Polly Laughlin., (2) Tasmanian Pioneer Index, Reg. year,1888, Registration number470, RGD No.33.); d. December 12, 1888, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Information given by Polly Laughlin.).
Notes for CHARLES EDGAR BATES:
More About CHARLES EDGAR BATES:
Burial: 1888, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Ref. 239, Hobart,Tasmania, Australia.)
4. iv. GLADYS ELIZABETH BATES, b. June 14, 1890, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; d. April 15, 1959, Oakland, Alameda, California.
5. v. PHYLLIS IRENE BATES, b. December 18, 1892, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; d. March 02, 1989, Contra Costa, California.
6. vi. DORIS BATES, b. October 29, 1895, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; d. July 15, 1968, Contra Costa County Hospital, Pittsburg, Contra Costa, California.
7. vii. RITA TENNYSON BATES, b. February 12, 1897, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; d. March 24, 1989, Sharp Cabrillo Hospital, San Diego, San Diego, California.
Generation No. 2
2. GERTRUDE JANE TENNYSON4 BATES (WALTER TENNYSON3, WILLIAM LAWRENCE2, JOHN1) was born 1883 in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia (Source: PRO, Victoria, Australia, Birth Cert. 9259.), and died May 05, 1958 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.).
She married THOMAS JAMES NEVIN February 06, 1907 in Wesleyan Church, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Marriage Cert. 150.), son of THOMAS NEVIN and ELIZABETH DAY. He was born April 16, 1874 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: (1) Marriage Cert. 150., (2) AVIR data, Reg year 1874, Reg. State: Tasmania, CB 1517475, birth, Ref. 415.), and died Abt. July 17, 1948 in Horbart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.).
Notes for GERTRUDE JANE TENNYSON BATES:
Victoria Pioneers Index. No. 9259, birth reference. Is this the Nevin, Gertrude Beatrice (B55836) in Cornelian Bay Cemetery Register. Gravestone: In Loving Memory of WALTER TENNYSON, Beloved husband of E. J. Bates, Also little CHARLIE, Infant son of above, Also GERTRUDE BATES, Died 5th May 1958, At Rest.
Gertrude grave location: CE EE 277
More About GERTRUDE JANE TENNYSON BATES (Thomas James "Sonny" Nevin's wife):
Burial: May 15, 1958, Comelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.)
Residence 1: January 17, 1948, 23 Newdegate St. Hobart, Tasmania (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.)
Residence 2: August 16, 1911, 18 Paternoster Row, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.)
Residence 3: May 15, 1958, Mt. Nelson Rd., Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.)
Notes for THOMAS JAMES NEVIN:
Nick name-Uncle Sonny. Was in the Salvation Army.
More About THOMAS JAMES NEVIN:
Baptism: May 26, 1874, Tasmania, Australia
Burial: July 17, 1948, Cornelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.)
Occupation: Bootmaker, in Hobart (Source: Marriage certificate.)
Residence: 1948, 23 Newdegate St., North Horbart, Tasmania, Australia
More About THOMAS NEVIN and GERTRUDE BATES:
Marriage: February 06, 1907, Wesleyan Church, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Marriage Cert. 150.)
Children of GERTRUDE BATES and THOMAS NEVIN are:
i. WALTER SYDNEY TENNYSON5 NEVIN (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.), b. 1910, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; d. August 16, 1911, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.).
More About WALTER SYDNEY TENNYSON NEVIN:
Burial: August 16, 1911, Comelian Bay Cemetery, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.)
Residence: August 16, 1911, 18 Patnoster Row, Hobart, Tasmania (Source: Cornelian Bay Cemetery records.)
ii. ATHOL NEVIN (Source: Information given by Laurie Hoffman.), b. Unknown, Unknown; d. Unknown, Unknown; m. WINIFRED, Unknown, Unknown; b. Unknown, Unknown; d. Unknown, Unknown.
More About ATHOL NEVIN:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
More About WINIFRED:
Burial: Unknown, Unknown
More About ATHOL NEVIN and WINIFRED:
Marriage: Unknown, Unknown
[End of extract from Jackie Cetnar's information]
Many thanks to Jackie Cetnar and Polly Laughlin (USA) © 2004-2007.
VOYAGE to and from CALIFORNIA 1920-22
See these related later articles here on this site for details of the voyage, and of Athol Nevin's WW2 service:
The Electoral Roll for Denison (Southern Tasmania) in 1936 listed Athol Clarence Nevin as a pastry cook and resident of 85 Queen St. Queensborough (Sandy Bay), together with his mother Gertrude T. Nevin, domestic duties. He was about 25 years old in 1936. In 1940 he enlisted with the 2/8 Field Regiment and served in the Middle East and Borneo. He was now calling himself Athol Tennyson Nevin, replacing his middle name "Clarence" with the name of his mother's father's middle name (who claimed the poet Tennyson as a relative). His parents may have separated by the late 1930s. His father's address in 1948, the date of his death, was 23 Newdegate St. North Hobart, and by 1949 Athol was resident in Melbourne, working as a storeman. His father wore the uniform of the Salvation Army in the 1930s and 1940s, as the photographs above indicate.
Information about Athol's marriage to Winifred Aird is yet to come, but they were listed on the Victorian Electoral Rolls as residents of Melbourne in 1954. Also, a postcard sent by Gertrude Nevin from California in the 1920s to her brother-in-law, George Ernest Nevin in Hobart, is yet to be scanned (in the Private Collection of Denis Shelverton). She began the postcard to George with the words "Dear lovey ..." (mmm!!!)
